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Video: Tips for how to Create a PowerPoint Presentation
Hello and welcome back! My name is Dr. Cheryl Lentz, owner of The Refractive Thinker®.
Today our focus is on tips for how to create a presentation using PowerPoint.
We begin first with understanding the purpose of PowerPoint. PowerPoint is part of the Microsoft
Office Suite, designed specifically to help speakers present to their audience. When we
keep this in mind, we realize that all that is needed for our PowerPoint slides is a few
bullet points, a table or graph, or maybe a picture or two, simple elements to help
keep us as a speaker on track as we tell our story to engage our audience.
Many speakers make the common mistake of putting too much information on their slides. The
goal is not to read your slides to your audience. Remember, if you have too much text on your
slides; your audience is reading your slides and not listening to you. Instead, focus on
short bullet points or a picture that helps remind you of specific points to explain or
stories to tell to keep you moving forward. Our goal is to have a conversation with our
audience, not to read to them. Make sure that your text or font size is large
enough for everyone to see—including those at the back of the room. I like to have my
slides with at least 28-36 pitch font in bright colors. Again, with only needing to have a
few bullet points or words on a slide, this size is usually large enough for everyone
in the room to see. Make sure that you are talking to your audience,
not talking to your slides. The goal of any presentation is to engage your audience, as
if you are having a personal conversation with each and every person. Be sure that you
face your audience, not your slides, and let’s not hide behind the podium either. Movement
is a big key to keeping your audience engaged. Walk around to different sides of the room;
make eye contact with different people to connect with your audience. Do not hide or
stand still. When you are engaged and interesting, so is your audience. Movement also helps if
you are nervous. Remember, you are just having a conversation.
Finally, be sure to practice, but not memorize your presentation. If you use index cards
or notes, do not write a script. Again, when you are nervous, you may be tempted to read
your notes, and your audience will not listen to you if you are reading to them. Your slides
should be your bullet points. Be sure to practice to avoid the dreaded ums, and uhs as well.
Remember, it’s ok to be nervous, just remember to breath and to smile. You’ll do just fine!
Giving presentations is an art that requires time and patience to do well. Learn to have
fun with your presentations, and remember you are simply sharing your story with your
audience. Feel free to bring props and visual aids or handouts as a picture is always worth
a 1000 words. For more tips on effective academic studying
and writing, please visit me at my blog at http://www.DissertationPublishing.com Thank
you for joining me. My name is Dr. Cheryl Lentz and I hope you find these suggestions
within this video helpful. Good luck to you. Cheers!
With respect,
Cheryl Dr. Cheryl Lentz
Chief Refractive Thinker® The Refractive Thinker® Press, where discriminating
scholars publish. Join me: Twitter , Linked In , My Blog , My
Website , & Facebook